AS BRUCE looks to extend the magnificent opening chapter of his story at Hull he recalls the agonising moment Sir Alex Ferguson ended his United playing career before the 1996 Cup Final.

Steve Bruce was cast out by United in 1996 but today he is the man calling the shots as he takes his Hull side to Wembley in the FA Cup Final.

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STEVE BRUCE had his heart ripped out on the Wembley pitch by ruthless Sir Alex Ferguson.

After a glorious nine-year fairytale at Manchester United, the Old Trafford legend had the book slammed shut on his Red Devils career by the no-nonsense Scot.

Today, however, Bruce is back at the scene of the anguish. And this time he’s looking to extend a magnificent opening chapter on his story at Hull.

Bruce can’t ever forget being axed by Fergie for the 1996 FA Cup Final just 90 minutes before kick-off.

He knew it was the end not just of his hopes of playing in the final but of his glittering near-decade experience at United.

It hurt even more than losing the previous year’s showpiece to Everton and wiped away the pride he felt at lifting the Double in 1994.

That feeling of desolation makes Bruce desperate to win when he leads Hull out against Arsenal for the first FA Cup Final in their 110-year history.

Bruce said: “The 1995 Final hurt but the 1996 Final was worse when Fergie told me on the pitch I wasn’t playing. That’s when I found out. It was about 1.30pm.

“To be fair, I’d had a hamstring injury and had missed the previous three weeks but that didn’t make it any easier.

“He just told me there and then out on the pitch before kick-off. It was his way of saying, ‘Steve, thanks but this is it for you’.

“It was the end of my career at United and my most disappointing moment.

“In 1994, I became the first English player to lift the Double, which was a brilliant moment but this was the other extreme.

“There is no better feeling than winning the cup and that is the experience I want us all to have.”

Bruce will be cast in Fergie’s role today when he may have to tell his son Alex he is not playing if James Chester recovers from his hamstring injury. Bruce Jnr has deputised well for Chester and his old man admits it is hard for the centre-half when his manager is also his dad.

He said: “It’s not easy but thankfully he is nearly 30 now and has been able to handle it.

“I’m like any other dad and I’ll be proud as anything if he gets a chance and does well.

“He has had more to deal with than most but never lets anyone down and is never likely to.”

Bruce knows his side are massive underdogs and will tell them before they walk out they can be heroes.

He said: “Can you make a name for yourself? Can you be a hero? Can you go down in this club’s history as the team that beat Arsenal in the Cup Final? That will be my message.”

Winning the trophy would be special for Bruce on two counts. First, to get his hands on a major piece of silverware.

Second, as his way of thanking chairman Assem Allam for his unswerving backing and for, alongside Wigan’s Dave Whelan, restoring his faith in football.

Bruce said: “Everyone knows what happened with me at Sunderland and your next job becomes crucial.

“No disrespect, but a lot of my pals found out I was going to Hull and asked, ‘Steve, are you sure? You are taking on a mid-table Championship club at best’.

“But when I met the owner, I thought why not. Thankfully, it’s been a good fit.

“Back in the day, after I had my second job at Huddersfield, I thought I wasn’t cut out for all the nonsense. Chairmen who don’t tell you the truth, what you should and shouldn’t say and the whole politics of management really got to me. Things might have been different were it not for Dave at Wigan, who proved to me what a proper chairman was like.

“Dave let you manage. He was old school. He said, ‘You are in charge. If you need me, call me.’

“That was a breath of fresh air and so is the current chairman. He’s let me manage and that is his greatest strength. In this game of madness, he let’s me be in charge.”

Bruce will go down in Tigers folklore if Hull win but he laughed at the prospect of having a statue outside the KC Stadium.